Dynabeads Epithelial Enrich Beads are 4.5-μm superparamagnetic beads coupled to a monoclonal mouse anti-human Ber-EP4 (EpCAM) antibody and intended for isolation of circulating epithelial tumor cells (CTCs) from liquid biopsy samples. The sensitive isolation method provided by Dynabeads Epithelial Enrich Beads is necessary given the low number of CTCs in liquid biopsy samples. The isolated CTCs remain attached to the beads throughout the process.

For downstream molecular or proteomic analysis, the cells can be directly lysed while still attached to the beads. RT-PCR can be performed for amplification and quantification of target nucleic acids. CTC isolation and any subsequent bead-based proteomic or molecular applications can be performed manually or automated using the KingFisher Apex purification system.

Benefits of Dynabeads Epithelial Enrich Beads include:
• High sensitivity and specificity isolation of CTCs from liquid biopsy samples
• Fast and efficient isolation of viable CTCs
• Automated script available for high-throughput enrichment on the KingFisher Apex instrument

Dynabeads-based positive isolation of circulating epithelial tumor cells
Dynabeads Epithelial Enrich Beads are added to the sample under continuous mixing for 30 minutes to optimize the binding of the Dynabeads to the target CTCs. By placing the sample in a DynaMag magnet, the bead-bound epithelial cells are separated from the rest of the sample in < 2 minutes. The supernatant is discarded, and the bead-bound cells are washed 2–3 times to obtain optimal purity. The cells can be lysed while still attached to the beads and the supernatant transferred to a new tube for cell culture or downstream molecular or proteomic analysis. Gene expression analysis without pre-enrichment of RNA can easily be performed using the TaqMan Cells-to-CT Express Kit. Starting samples can be whole blood, buffy coat, bone marrow, or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

High throughput positive isolation of CTCs on KingFisher Apex instrument
The entire workflow can be automated using the KingFisher Apex purification system with 96-deep-well plates. The high-throughput recovery of bead-bound CTCs can be achieved in ∼50 minutes after the sample and reagents are loaded into the plates. The isolated CTCs are viable and suitable for culture and downstream molecular or proteomic analysis.

Benefits of using automated CTC isolation include:
• Reduced hands-on time
• High reproducibility due to fewer manual handling errors
• Increased throughput with high purity of viable CTCs

Alternative CTC enrichment methods
Positive isolation with release: If it is preferred to positively isolate CTCs for immunological applications such as flow cytometry, we recommend using Dynabeads CELLection Epithelial Enrich Beads (EpCAM, Cat. No. 16203) where the beads are released from the cells after the isolation. The bead-free CTCs are pure, viable and can be used in any downstream application. If you are using your own biotinylated antibody, we recommend using Dynabeads MyOne Streptavidin T1.
Negative isolation of untouched CTCs: If it is preferred to isolate untouched CTCs by leukocyte depletion, we recommend using Dynabeads CD45 Beads (Cat. No. 11153D).

Commercial supply
Our manufacturing sites are ISO 13485-certified. Bead characteristics and manufacturing conditions help ensure consistency and batch reproducibility making them well suited for commercial supply. If you are in the process of customizing Dynabeads Epithelial Enrich Beads in a commercial product or service or need a larger bulk volume of this product, please contact us at oemdynal@lifetech.com or read more on our Dynabeads OEM page.